Chapter 184: Deep Sea
Chen Rui was overjoyed: The output of the galaxy garden increases by three-folds! It also increases quality! This is indeed the heart of the elemental king that possesses the Earth Power!
What’s even more amazing was that, just like aura gathering flower planted in the garden, the earth elemental heart could also manifest corresponding functions when it’s in the galaxy garden, such as increasing willpower, assisting mind training, <Earth Mastery> and so on.
When Chen Rui’s eyes fell onto the fruit-like earth elemental heart on the small tree, a prompt appeared again, “Damaged unknown source; unknown repair conditions.” It seemed that it was still necessary to find the requiem fruit to repair.
The effect of the earth elemental heart is truly amazing. Unfortunately, I can only use it for a year. It’ll be nice if I can find a way to extend that. Then, I can take it for myself instead of returning it to the Earth Elemental King.
After Chen Rui had a selfish desire, he suddenly reflected: Moore has been exhausting his strength to protect Athena. He even entrusted me with his elemental heart with so much faith. How can I have such a mean idea of being ungrateful?
That’s right. It must be the negative impact of the Star Conversion. This effect is becoming more and more obvious. It seems that I have to hurry to train my mind.
The Earth Elemental King, Moore’s statue had been moved into the fountain of life by the earth elementals. There was still 10 days before Athena woke up. Thus, Chen Rui sat on the ground in the Earth Palace and entered the Super System.
During the few days in the Dark Moon City, Chen Rui was able to calm down in the training ground and even calm his mind to meditate. The Earth Elemental King said that the calm mind was only the most basic step. Next, he must further refine this state of mind in a harsh environment.
Chen Rui thought for a while and decided to choose a setting that he hadn’t tried before: deep sea.
After confirming on 100-folds time and the deep sea scene, Chen Rui was already immersed in the seawater. He was suddenly breathless. He was taken aback. He originally thought that he would start from the surface and dive in, but unexpectedly, it began in the deep sea. At that moment, Chen Rui felt that his body had undergone some changes, mainly at his cheeks, as if he could breathe and swim like fish. The feeling was wonderful.
However, the wonderful feeling lasted only for a moment. Chen Rui felt that the water pressure around him was very heavy, especially on his eyes and the internal organs. It was very uncomfortable. This feeling was completely different from the gravity rule as it was the pressure from all directions, leaving him no room to escape. Compared with the monstrous dynamics of the surfy sea, the deep sea was as calm as a mirror, but it was more dangerous than ever.
Water pressure was quite a terrifying weapon. For example, in the sea abyss 10,000 meters deep, small fishes and shrimps that were a few centimeters in length bore the pressure of nearly 1 ton. If it was a tank, it would be flattened already.
The reason that deep-sea fish could withstand the pressure was that their physiology had evolved adaptively where their bones become very thin and easily bent; their muscle tissue became particularly flexible and the fibrous tissue became surprisingly dense. What’s more interesting was that the fish skin tissue became a very thin layer of membrane, which could fill the fish body with water to maintain the balance of the internal and external pressure.
Once the internal and external pressure was out of balance, the internal organs would be destroyed. When Chen Rui entered the training mode, only the function of underwater breathing was changed. There was no evolutionary adaptation similar to the deep-sea creatures. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be training but a tour in the deep-sea.
It was precisely because there was no such transformation that Chen Rui’s internal organs felt a strong pressure. He moved upward for a while and he surely felt the pressure around him became weaker. The higher he went, the weaker the pressure and vice versa, so there was freedom to adjust. Chen Rui chose a depth that he could tolerate and put himself in a sitting position in the water before trying to enter a “quiet” state of mind.
In the several previous trainings and the peaceful environment in the water, he soon entered a very comfortable “quiet” mood. However, this pressure was obviously not enough, so Chen Rui controlled his body to gradually sink. He felt that the surrounding pressure gradually increased. At first, it was okay. After that, he had to circulate his Star Power to resist the pressure while maintaining a quiet mind.
Chen Rui had now faintly understood that the Galaxy Divinity Temple and the solar system should be a separate spiritual space. If he died in the training ground, the result was likely to directly feedback into the actual brain, causing the nerves of the brain to stop all activities and cause an actual death. Therefore, he shouldn’t risk it.
Due to the heavy pressure around him, most of his attention was focused on resisting it. It was difficult for him to truly calm down for a while.
I remember a famous saying in Jin Yong’s wuxia novel [1], “Let the pressure and the wind be strong while one just controls his breathing [1]”. This phrase seems very true, but it’s very hard to practice. If I let it be “strong”, my internal organs will collapse. How do I still control my breath?
Chen Rui couldn’t help but be a little agitated. He could only try to use the old method. Past memories flashed in his mind, including Athena who he missed to try to return to the calm state. As the past reappeared in front of his eyes, just like how many people recalled their past, as a bystander, he felt that the protagonist in the “movie” was stupid. People always complained that there was no second chance. However, would things actually change when we had a second chance? If he could do it again, would he still risk his life to teleport with Broc at the Silent Night Wetland? Would he still go to kill Ross again in Town Leia? Would Athena still burn her life for him?
The answer is certain. Regardless of how it changes, even if I’m reborn to another world, even if it relive again, some things will never change. I am still me.
Chen Rui seemed to realize something and the pressure around him seemed to have weakened a lot. His mind began to relax. He seemed to have grasped the faint feeling of “not moved by any foreign matter”. Gradually, he entered a familiar state of meditation again.
The bits of white light emitted by the earth elemental heart within the mist of the galaxy garden became brighter. At the same time, the star chart in the body of the status bar at the Galaxy Divinity Temple also emitted a corresponding light. The planets’ details that were initially ambiguous had become clear.
In the underground world, one couldn’t see the two moons outside. He could only judge the time based on the change of color of some special types of rocks.
Tag and Sog were at the entrance of Earth Palace, looking at Chen Rui sitting motionlessly at a distance.
“Sog, do you feel a change in Earth Power?”
Sog nodded, “Of course. I never thought Chen Rui’s breath was enough to spur the Earth Power. It should be the effect of the king’s elemental heart.”
Tag hesitated for a moment and said, “Although he is only a Demon King, somehow, I always feel a little disturbed, especially when he is masked and motionless.”
“Perhaps it’s an illusion, but I often notice the breath from him is kind of similar to when the king was occupied by Glorfin…”
Sog asked, “You’re worried that he’ll become the second Glorfin?”
“Yes.” Tag’s eyes are full of seriousness. “Chen Rui’s power is really magical. If he reaches the Demon Overlord level, he may be more terrifying than Glorfin. If he truly becomes a slave of the mask, then even if the king is resurrected, he won’t be able to rival.”
Sog stared at Tag’s eyes and said, “So, do you want to fix this scourge in advance now?”
“The elemental heart is still with him. Also, he is the only hope for the resurrection of the king. How can we hurt him?”
Sog shook his head, “I know you are loyal to the king, but your idea is even more disrespectful to the king as you’re questioning the king’s decision. During the final battle at the Tauren’s Lair, it was Chen Rui’s first time putting on the “God-Eating Mask”. To avoid any bad changes, I once wanted to kill him too; it was the king who stopped me. Chen Rui is a friend we acknowledge and a benefactor of us, the earth elementals and the entire underground world. We should trust our friend just as the king trusts him.”
Tag thought for a moment and nodded, “You’re right, I should trust the king’s insight; I should trust my friend even more. I will sincerely apologize to him.”
“It’s fine. I don’t think he will mind. Let’s go. We should guard the Earth Realm and not let anyone disturb his training.”
Chen Rui didn’t know that the 2 elite earth elementals were discussing him. Even if he could hear, he couldn’t think about it as he was in a strange realm at that time. His body instinctively adjusted the Star Power to adapt to the water pressure. His heart couldn’t feel anything other than the little clarity of consciousness that remained.
Chen Rui closed his eyes, letting his body sink and float in the water with the flow. No matter how the pressure changed, he always kept that point in his heart – a “quiet” state.
It wasn’t easy to reach this step as this was already his third time entering the deep sea. He went through countless attempts previously, including taking a lot of detours. It was just like smithing, an ore was tempered bit by bit to remove the impurities, leaving the true essence. The star chart in the status bar had become very clear. Although the light was soft, it always shone evenly. It was completely different from the previous times where the light shone intermittently.
Although the spirit realm could override the body, it couldn’t completely offset the pressure on the body. The pressure on Chen Rui’s current strength had reached its limit. If he went any deeper, his body would be unable to bear and collapse.
However, Chen Rui had mastered all the tricks of <Refined Mind>. After finishing this training, he didn’t enter the deep sea again, but chose other environments, such as glacier and volcano. It was just like some monks that train their minds in various harsh environments. The experience was dangerous and crazy, but the effect was getting more and more obvious.
Chen Rui’s training was in line with the requirements of <Refined Mind>. In fact, he didn’t know that Alioth state required him not only to refine the mind but also to accumulate and consume humongous soul power while constantly strengthen himself in the training.
By coincidence, Chen Rui devoured the Glorfin’s Demon Overlord-level soul and saved him from the accumulation of soul power. He actually already took a shortcut. However, this shortcut was a coexistence of opportunity and risk. If it was the soul power that he accumulated by himself, he clearly wouldn’t have the danger of losing his consciousness; yet, the soul power that he accumulated himself would be far inferior to the Demon Overlord and it would take longer time.
As long as Chen Rui could survive this last challenge, he could completely digest the soul of the Demon Overlord. Then, not only would he be able to breakthrough the Alioth state in the shortest time, but his strength would also be much higher than expected.
There was another thing that surprised Chen Rui. The support for mind provided by the earth elemental heart was stronger than expected. Not only were the “quantity” and “quality” greatly enhanced but the progress and success rate of <Deep Analysis> had also greatly increased. After completing this round, the progress had reached as much as 50%.
After reaching 50%, in the Super System’s solar system, the mask that was suspended in the air gradually changed. The mask, which had only eyes initially, started to have clear features. It was actually Chen Rui’s face!